WITHOUT BORDERS

Hello! My name is Loredana and this is the story of how our bear projects started.

A little girl in Africa had AIDS and asked that she be buried with her bear because it was her only friend. The bear had been donated by the Mother Bear Project organization.

Touched by the little girl's story, I made the decision to knit 250 bears as my first gift for hospitalized children at the Shoe4Africa hospital in Kenya - East Africa's first public children's hospital.

As months passed, I envisioned doctors prescribing bears to children about to undergo medical treatments.

I knitted, while silently hoping that each stitch would retain my love and secretly wishing that each bear would deliver a cure.
I knitted, while quietly dreaming that each bear would whisper to a child: “You’re precious! I’m here to make you smile.”

And then something beautiful happened: friends, co-workers, family members and others voluntarily joined the effort.

Today, people in two continents are making bears and, project ambassadors are delivering them to children. So far, thanks to all of our efforts, more than 5000 bears have been distributed in over 20 countries.

Bears are voluntarily made with love

Project ambassadors experience joy distributing bears

Children express happiness receiving the toys

Participants are touched by the pictures they receive

Many are inspired

It is our hope that these small and easy-to-make toys will touch the hearts of many and provide joy to all.

My sincerest gratitude to all the knitting artists, ambassadors and benefactors.

Loredana D.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is an ambassador? An ambassador is a person who bring our bears to the children.

How do you find an ambassador? Below are some ideas:

An ambassador can be you, a friend, a trusted co-worker or family member who is about to travel to a location where you would like to donate your bears

An organization that provides medical assistance in remote places

Someone recommended by your religious organization

If I make bears following your pattern, may I contribute my bears to your projects? Yes. Projects are open to all who wish to contribute. Follow the pattern on our web site and contact us. We will provide you with an address where to send your bears.

May I coordinate a project in my area? Absolutely! It is a rewarding experience to coordinate a project and we are here to answer any questions you may have. Just remember: the coordinator has overall responsibility for the project and inspects all bears to make sure they are safe for the children. Only yarn and poly-fill (synthetic cotton) must be used to make the bears. No buttons or any other objects are allowed.

Do I need to be part of a group to do a project? Not necessarily. Projects can be done by one person or by a group of people. A mother may organize a project for her child. The owner of a knitting store may organize a project for his/her clients. A group of seniors may get together to work on a project for their religious organization. These, of course, are only a few ideas.

How many bears are in a project? Projects can be as little as 3 bears or as many as your ambassador can carry.

How do I get my project on your web site? Contact us and we will publish your project. Send us pictures of your bears - without people, please - and we will add them to the bear gallery.

News Articles

- Every time I knit a bear I feel a gift has been given to me - a gift to share. - Donya

- The awesome way to touch a Heart! God bless those hands - Philip O.

- Mission accomplished - from ball of yarn to little hands...I'm all teary..with itching fingers. - Ronnie L. after seeing images of her bears in the hands of the children.

- What a wonderful thing this is for God's children!!!. - Sister Pietrina

- Let's do it again! - Dr. Harry, after distributing bears in Uganda

- What you are doing for the children, especially those who have lost their parents or caregivers, is very important. You are providing them with a transitional object. - Columbia University Professor

- Knitting bears is one of my favorite forms of meditation and, to be able to give the end product as a gift, warms my heart. Loredana

- As long as children keep needing toys, I'll keep knitting bears. I'll be knitting my little fingers off. I can't think of a better way to start the new year. - Alice S.

- So generous and kind of you. Giving the new child who is sacred and intimidated a symbol of friendship. - Toby Tanser, Founder of Shoe4Africa

- Dana had texted me while she was in Kenya that she had the best day of her entire life. I assumed it was after the mission, they went on safari before returning to Nairobi to leave. Nope - it was the day she spent at the orphanage with the kids with malaria caring for them and giving them bears!. - Carla A.